I think it was another reporter in the same paper said that Nucifora may be taking Munster on as a sort of personal project, getting Erasmus (his man) in and getting them on the right path again, it can be taken with a pinch of salt but reading more

"Talk of Ben Smith joining Munster...... the province may have sought outside help to bring Smith in. IRFU performance director Nucifora has spoken of his willingness to get private investors involved."

"Erasmus is working hard to increase his options next season, with Irish-qualified trio Chris Farrell, JJ Hanrahan and James Hart on the way, while Munster are likely to be allowed retain one of Jaco Taute or Francis Saili."

"Rhys Marshall, a project player from New Zealand, has already joined and uncapped South African prop Oliver Kebble has been linked with a move."

Munster couldn't afford their stadium repayments last year and are now in talks with Smith?

How much of this is true?

How much is down to Munster, and how much Nucifora?

How can Munster get Hart to be behind Murray, and have Pienaar leave Ulster? (why is Nucifora not making this an Ulster move to replace Pienaar)Allowed an NIQ center forever and add a NIQ fullback, yet they have not produced any centers and have to relay on former Ulster ones Farrell, and Arnold?

If any of this is true fair play to Munster, but if its true and Nucifora is involved I wouldn't be as happy.How can Nucifora push through all this for Munster who have limited finances, yet can't assit in moving some backrows to Ulster?

In fairness, Benetton Treviso were not that big a draw, but against Stade Français is a little disappointing, maybe due to losing at home to Tigers. Munster were still getting decent crowds when not in the best of form, but winning teams do pull in the bigger crowds, thats just sport.

Ronan O'Gara wrote:What is certain is that Munster has got a serious talent in Grenoble’s Chris Farrell, who is a completely underappreciated talent. I think he is a fantastic player. He’s 6ft 5ins I promise you, and has great feet.

Sin é wrote:ROG gave him a good review in his column in examiner today.

Ronan O'Gara wrote:What is certain is that Munster has got a serious talent in Grenoble’s Chris Farrell, who is a completely underappreciated talent. I think he is a fantastic player. He’s 6ft 5ins I promise you, and has great feet.

The province has been in the news in recent times about its debt situation. Fitzgerald says Munster's commitments have recently been restructured, saying that happened "predominantly because of the economic situation and the recession and how it affected our income". Ticket sales had become sluggish but have now started to improve in tandem with the province's fortunes on the pitch.

"We spent in excess of €40m on Thomond Park and there's just over €9m now owed on it ten years later, which is a really positive position. We restructured the debt recently and we're meeting all our commitments on the restructured agreement as we stand at the moment," Fitzgerald said. "The naming rights is part of the commercial programme . . . if the naming rights never happened we're still meeting our restructured commitments." Fitzgerald said.

As far as I'm aware, Farrell is a different sort of player from McCloskey. He is more of a rangy runner, with a lanky sort of build. Almost built like a Tom Croft and he prefers playing at 13 where he gets more space in the wider channels.

He made Henshaw look average last season when they came head to head. Quite easily put him on his bum at one stage.

I have nothing against Munster signing a medical joker, but to be allowed 3 NIQ locks, and to keep another medical joker until the end of the season if does appear Munster are being favoured by Nucifora/IRFU

It certainly helps Munster in their European push and I'm glad for it, a good run by them in European benefits us all, and I hope Munster and Leinster do well. Its just that the rules do not appear to being applied to all the provinces consistently.

This isn't Munsters fault, they applied for a NIQ joker just the same as any other province would, but were others are being declined Munster seam to be given more leeway.

The few (3) B&I Cup games Gavin Coombes has played have been in the backrow. Evan Mintern isn't even in the Munster Academy yet. Dave O'Callaghan is a backrower, John Madigan & Darren O'Shea are needed for B&I Cup and possibly Wycherley to sub.

Munster are playing Toulouse in QF - it would be possitively dangerous to let those young lads play in that game - they are just not conditioned to play against a Champs Cup pack.

Anyway I look forward to hearing who Ulsters Medical Joker is for Coetzee is.

Copeland played once for Cardiff and once for Munster at lock - both in the Pro12 games.

Munster is still in the Champs Cup, B&I Cup and on track for a playoff place in the Pro12. Apart from the chances are of an injury to Ryan or Holland, it would be financial suicide (for Munster & IRFU) not to try and make the finals of these three competitions.